In July 2005, 19-year-old Johnson became the first female soldier from Missouri to die in Iraq. She was found with a broken nose, black eye and loose teeth, acid burns on her genitals, presumably to eliminate DNA evidence of rape, a trail of blood leading away from her tent and a bullet hole in her head. Unbelievably, that's not the most horrifying part of the story. Here's what is: Army investigators ruled her death a suicide.

A woman beaten, with acid burns on her genitals, a gunshot wound that did not come from her weapon - or from her hand most likely. Still the US military wants this problem to go away. Of course they aren't doing anything to make the problem - of rape and murder go away. And so the problem is in the news again, with another death at the hands of another military spouse.

Now I haven't investigated whether the problem is more or less severe in the military than outside the military, but at least outside the military there is some hope the authorities will investigate. (Not a guarantee, but this level of cover-up would likely not happen. Too much bad PR for the DA and the cops would - or could - ensue)

Why is it that cover-up seems to be happening in the army? And why is it that no one cares? [via Feministing]

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